Mail distributor



Oct, 23,1923. 1,471,370 c. P WALKER MAIL DISTRIBUTOR Filed Aug. 4, 1922 2 Shets-Sheet 1 IN VE N TOR a fiaZ ATTORNEY div/QM Get. 23, 1923. 1,471,370

c. P. WALKER MAIL DISTRIBUTOR Filed Aug. 4, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F I rr J J Mg J z 5 a J a ff ATTOLQNEY Patented @et. 23, 1923.

CHARLES P. "WALKER, OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA.

It! IL DISTRIBUTOR.

Application filed August 4, 1822. Serial No. 579,583.

practical apparatus for receiving and deliv ering mail sacks at railway stations.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the -appa ratus as mounted in connection with a mail car.

Figure 2 is a detail of the mail delivering arm and mechanism at the station platform.

Figure 3 is a plan view.

Figure 4 is a detail of the receiving and delivering mechanism.

The invention consists of a rectangular frame 1 pivoted or hinged at 2 to the mail car 3, immediately back of the door 4. Hinged or pivoted in turn to this frame 1 is the receiving and delivering device, the same embodying a secondary frame 5 having a sack receiving arm 6 pivoted forwardly at 7 for vertical movement, the rear end thereof being bent up in the form of a hook 8 adapted to engage a metal loop 9 which is hinged at 10 to the frame 1 and turns 35 down over the hook 8. A spring catch 11 holds the loop down in place on the hook. Thus the arm 6 may be raised or lowered as desired. The delivering element consists of a wheel 12 journaled at 1.3 to the rear end 'of the frame 5. This wheel has a sack holding notch 14: cut in it, adapted to hold the ring 15 of the mail sack 16. Forwardly of the notch 14 is cut a ratch 17 to cooperate with the pawl 18 to hold the wheel 12 against rotation and the sack 16 in sus pended position, as desired. The pawl 18 is pivoted at 19 to the frame 5, and has a heel 20 to engage a fiat spring 21 secured at 22 to the frame, and which spring normally throws the pawl 18 back into the ratch 1.7. A rod 23 is attached at 24 to the pawl 18 and has its forward end slotted at 25 to embrace the curved lever 26 which is pivoted medially at 27 to the frame 5. The foot or" the lever is secured to a spring 28 attached at 29 to the frame 5 and which nor mally draws the lever 26 backward, and so the slot 25 will freely inclose the lever 26, thus allowing the pawl 18 to remain in engagement with the ratch 17; The upper arm 30 of the lever 26 is bent backwardly nearly to the horizontal, but inclining somewhat upwardly. lit is obvious that depressing the arm 30 operates to release the sack 16, since the lever 26 strikes the forward side of the slot 25, thus drawing the bar 23 forwardly, and releasing the pawl 18 from the ratch 17, whereupon the-weight ofthe sack 16 turns the wheel 12 back, and the sack falls off.

- Alongside the track 31 is mounted a post 32 with cross brace 33, and at the end of the brace 33 is pivoted at 34 a sack deliveringarm 35 with a ratch 36 on the upper side of its pivoted end. A v 38, engages the ratch 36 to hold the arm 35 pawl 37 pivoted at I in horizontal position. The pawl 37 has.

an integral, downwardly and forwardly inclined trigger 39.

The mail sack 4:0 to be transferred to the car is hung on the arm 35, while the one 16 to be dropped at the station is hung on the notch 14: of the wheel 12. As the arm 6 engages the ring of the sack 10 the lever arm '30 will strike under the trigger 39 and raise the pawl 37 thus'm-aking it easier for the arm 6 to take off the sack 40. As the lever 6 passes on under, it again raises the arm and resets this arm in a horizontal position, the pawl 37 falling into the ratch 36. At the same time the downward pressure on the lever arm 30 operates to release the sack 16 as before described.

While I have herein described a certain specific. method of constructing and assembling the elementsof my invention, it is understood same may be varied in minor details, not departing from the spirit of my ment to the car; a post and cross brace at the side of the track; a sack receiving arm pivoted for vertical movement to the forward side of the frame; releasable means for holding the arm in horizontal position; a wheel journal'e d at the rear of the frame and having a sack holding notch and a ratch therein; a spring set pawl to engage the aid pawl and in the path of the operating levers controlling the sack holding Wheel eiereseid (TERA-LES P. WALKER.

Y itn -s THORNTON, HARMON. 

